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Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
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Author:  Vintbreit [ Thu May 16, 2019 3:06 am ]
Post subject:  Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
I recently picked up a pre-806 Navitimer from the original owner's family and came across this forum in search of an answer to a problem. Two hands are loose under the crystal and I need to know how to properly remove the bezel so I can put the hands back on their pinions. The slide rule looks like it extends under the dial but moves with the bezel. I'd appreciate any assistance. Thanks! Forgive me if this issue has already been addressed.
Author:  buddman [ Thu May 16, 2019 6:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
would be lovely to see your watch. Can you post a picture?

The sliderule and the bezel/glass all move as a unit, so what you're seeing is correct.

The watch is potentially quite rare and valuable, and it doesn't sound (sorry!) like you are a watchmaker. I don't think you should be playing around with a pre-806 Navitimer. I'd find a good competent watchmaker to send it to and give it a service, but don't replace any parts.

If you're not happy with that advice, the bezel is popped of by inserting a caseback knife between the bezel and the case, and prying it off gently. Careful, as there is a bezel retention clip/wire/spring in there. The process is the same as removing a snap crystal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSIw6DezWJ8
Author:  Vintbreit [ Thu May 16, 2019 7:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
You are right on, I am not a watchmaker. I am a jeweler and have operated on some watches. My friend of 30 years who was a watchmaker passed away a year ago and was repairing watches until then at 93. I feel lost without him. I contacted a couple repair facilities and all wanted to do a big dollar complete refub. on the watch. I only wanted to attach the hands, polish the crystal and maybe a cleaning. Due to the rarity, I am even hesitant about trying to remove the back. The watch runs and the stopwatch function and pushers operate fine. I did see that Youtube video but my bezel is tight to the case and I questioned that method. Thanks. I may still leave it alone since I don't want to break any tension spring - where would I find another?
Author:  Kurt B [ Thu May 16, 2019 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
There's no
Quote:
clip/wire/spring
in there, it flips right off

Kurt B http://www.kurt-b.com
Author:  buddman [ Thu May 16, 2019 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
Vintbreit wrote:
My friend of 30 years who was a watchmaker passed away a year ago and was repairing watches until then at 93. I feel lost without him.


Im sorry for your loss. Grief hits everyone differently and for many it takes a long time to fill the void a friend or family member occupied.

You watch is really beautiful, and in that respect you are very lucky. Maybe you can post where you live and we can see if we can find someone to look at it for you?
Author:  Vintbreit [ Thu May 16, 2019 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
Thank you for your kind thoughts buddman. He was a tough old WWII US Marine SOB :guns: and the nicest person to know. Played golf till he died and still had a vice grip handshake. I am in Maryland and typically travel to New York and PA.
Author:  vintage [ Fri May 17, 2019 7:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
I had a really tight bezel to case Breitling chronograph a while back and couldn't get a knife blade in between the two. Looked around and found a box cutter with a razor edge blade and that got in the crack far enough to get a knife blade in and it popped right off. That Navitimer looks like a V72 going by the pusher spacing, right? I think a sympathetic restoration just to make it reliable would be the way I would go.
Author:  Vintbreit [ Fri May 17, 2019 11:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
It is a V72. My question now is what rentention mechanism holds the bezel on and do I risk damaging it during removal. And what about re-installing it? Anothervquestion: is the back screwed down or pressed on?
Author:  WatchFred [ Fri May 17, 2019 11:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
both bezel and caseback are pressed on.
this is a very valuable watch - and it apparently hasn’t been used for years, so it should be serviced anyway; would be best to leave all that to a competent watchmaker?
Author:  Kurt B [ Fri May 17, 2019 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
It really depends on what you intend to do with it, if you want to keep it and use it, then a service is a must, just a movement service, and the 2 subdial hands attached.

But come in mind that there's always a potential risk when servicing such an old watch, and if something goes wrong, it will hurt the value, and if something happens with the dial, the value is in free fall.

If you intend to sell it, then sell it as it is, and let buyer deal with it.

The best guy to service it, is without any doubt at all, Mark Heist at Horologicalservices.com
Just be sure to tell him only to service the movement and put the 2 subdial hands back on, nothing more....!!!

Kurt B www.kurt-b.com
Author:  Vintbreit [ Sat May 18, 2019 2:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
I want to thank those that have advised me well. I have been impressed by the forum members and wish I could repay the effort. Rest assured I will heed good advice and do not plan to open the watch myself as I do not want to risk a knife blade scratching the case. Due to the provenance of the owner dating back to a clandestine WWII history before the watch was made and going forward when he purchased the watch, I need to search for a watchmaker willing to actually speak with me and perform work on the watch that I want done. I have attempted to speak with a watchmaker at a couple repair facilities and so far I am only blown off by receptionists giving me a standard corporate line and telling me what they want to do to the watch with a total lack of interest in my needs.
Author:  buddman [ Sat May 18, 2019 3:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
Does anyone have a recommended watchmaker in the New York area for Vintbreit?
Author:  WatchFred [ Sat May 18, 2019 4:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
checking with a friend in NYC
Author:  WatchFred [ Sat May 18, 2019 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
collector/dealer friend suggests:
Jacob Khalif Watch service center.
15 w 47 th in the mezzanine Phone 1 (212) 398-2333.

has ample experience with similar work.

The Heists, suggested by Kurt above, are clearly THE specialists, so an excellent alternative, though not in New York.
Author:  Vintbreit [ Sat May 18, 2019 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help With 1954 Pre-806 Navitimer Bezel Removal
Thanks WatchFred. I can travel between New York state and Maryland to find someone. I will contact Jacob Khalif. I tried the Heists since they are only about a 2 hour drive but they wanted to take 6 months to do a full service and did not seem interested in doing what I wanted done. I understand and agree that the watch should probably have a complete service. My issue is that when I go to sell the watch, one of the first questions will be where did I have it serviced. This can make a big difference to some buyers with a preference in watchmakers so I have to agree with Kurt that it is better to leave it alone. At least with the two subdials on it will be possible to see all the functions working.
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